There is something about spring that gets us bright eyed, bushy tailed, and ready to shake things up.   I don’t know how many of us still shake the bedding and leave it out in the sun in the garden, but cleaning out the house and wiping out the dank corners can be done in any abode.

So how do we do that with our bodies?  Do they need cleaning?  On the whole, our bodies are self-cleaning, if we give them enough time.   We can’t actually go in there and clean up, except for the large bowel – but whatever is in the large bowel is already ready to come out, so it’s kind of after the fact.  But we can encourage the body to clean itself further by some simple, time-tested practices.  If you are ready to do a little spring cleansing of your own, try any or several of the following.

1. Eat less!  Cut down on the quantity of food by half, and if you get hungry, drink water.
2. Do a 3-day fast on nothing but fruits and vegetables, both cooked and raw.
3. Try a 3-day juice fast, followed by 3 days of only vegetables and whole grains.
4.  For good bowel function, add fermented vegetables to your meals – sauerkraut, kim chee, pickled beets – these should be brine-fermented, with salt, not vinegar
5. After the fast, it's a good time to review your eating habits, and say goodbye to those that damage you, such as sugared sweets, soda pop, pastries, and packaged snacks.  Stick to nuts and seeds for crunchy snacks. 

You can do this once or twice a year – say, spring and fall – and such a simple regime can be really good for your health and longevity.